Full Idea
Consider a case in which millions could be made permanently happy on the one simple condition that a certain lost soul on the far-off edge of things should lead a life of lonely torture.
Gist of Idea
Imagine millions made happy on condition that one person suffers endless lonely torture
Source
William James (The Will to Believe [1896], p.188), quoted by Robert Fogelin - Walking the Tightrope of Reason Ch.2
Book Reference
Fogelin,Robert: 'Walking the Tightrope of Reason' [OUP 2004], p.58
A Reaction
This seems to be one of the earliest pinpointings of a key problem with utilitiarianism, which is that other values than happiness (in this case, fairness) seem to be utterly overruled. If we ignore fairness, why shouldn't we ignore happiness?